Jail term for man who cultivated drugs crop | Northland News | Local News in Northland

A $700 power bill - about four and a half times the monthly household average - led Northland police to a sophisticated indoor cannabis-growing operation.

The find brought Stanley Mark Wrathall a jail term of two years and seven months, and nearly two years' home detention for Sharon Jane Blomfield.

The couple, both aged 44, were living at rural property near Whakapara when police raided their home last April and discovered a shed containing a growing room.

A large stash of dried cannabis, a glass P pipe, a small amount of methamphetamine and an unlicensed .22 rifle were found at the property.

Justice Warwick Gendall told the High Court at Whangarei on Friday the couple were wholesalers, selling large quantities of cannabis which would  be put into tinnies.

Wrathall and Blomfield both pleaded guilty to two charges of cultivating cannabis for supply, possession of a P pipe and possession of methamphetamine.

Wrathall also admitted possession of cannabis for supply, selling cannabis, and possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Crown prosecutor Duncan Coleman said the couple managed to harvest three or four times a year from about 50 plants at a time, which could have generated up to $70,000 per annum.

The operation was run in a shed that had been fitted with lights, fans and dehumidifiers.

Police seized a cellphone belonging to Wrathall which contained text messages with information about drug deals.

Justice Gendall was concerned about the firearm at the house and did not accept Wrathall's explanation it was for shooting animals and not for protection

"The mix of weapons and drug growing is a dangerous mix," Justice Gendall said.

Police said power bills showed the house had an average monthly bill of $693, which equated to $8765 a year.